Karalee

Mil Place is a 6 storey mixed-use building design with two commercial floors and four residential floors. The commercial floors are occupied by a large upmarket supermarket and cafe, and above are 3 residential floors of generously spaced high-end apartments and a rooftop level resident's lounge. The location chosen for the site was at the intersection of two busy commuter roads in the Northwest of Calgary, and this location inspired the design - I imagined breaking commuters away from their thoughts about the busy day ahead and provoking curiosity about my design. The hexagon shape chosen for the extrusion is a complex shape and a mathematical phenomenon in beehives; it’s also a spiritual shape, used in some forms of meditation. The name of the building comes from the Irish language, Gaeilge, where ‘Mil’ means honey. The proposed (hexagonal) extrusion on the building is aluminum secured at each level to the concrete slab floors. This extrusion sits over a light coloured brick veneer. Abundant windows are placed throughout with views and natural light being a priority of the design. Incorporating greenery and outdoor space was an additional priority and the apartments surround an atrium that runs from the ground floor to the roof. Each apartment has access to a patio with the aluminum extrusion often providing privacy between residences. The building culminates with a large roof-top space partially covered and furnished with tables and greenery.

The brief for this project was to design an environmentally sustainable single family dwelling. The choice of a 1960s bungalow renovation fit the brief and also with my vision of renovating older residences in an environmentally conscious way. This design incorporates best practices from the study of Passivhaus. The large roof overhanging the main living area provides substantial shade in summer but is designed to let the lower winter sunlight seep in. The roof is sloped to facilitate rainwater gathering. Steel was the material of choice for much of the siding and the roof and is from recycled materials; in addition steel is recyclable and low maintenance. Windows are tripled glazed to insulate and protect from the cold winter climate and hot summers. There are abundant windows for natural light with floor to ceiling windows in the living area and windows that open from west to east in the prevailing wind direction to facilitate natural ventilation. A central fireplace in the living area would provide heat on cooler spring and autumn days and would supplement the main heat source, a furnace, during the harsher winter weather. Other initiatives included a solar water heater (placed on the roof) which could potentially heat up to fifty percent of the family’s hot water needs, low flow toilets, hemp insulation and low volatile millwork, flooring and paint to ensure a healthy environment

The architectural vision for this multi-dwelling was to minimize waste and destruction in the choice of materials and for the design to enhance the beauty of its location while affording its residents privacy. The site is a 50ft x 120ft north-south oriented parcel and has immediate access to a network of pathways adjacent to a large park. The multi-dwelling units were offset from each other and oriented to make the most of the surrounding views and natural light and to enhance privacy for residents. The exterior materials of corten steel, brick and glass were chosen to highlight the juxtaposition of disparate materials. Corten steel is suited to the low humidity of the Calgary climate and facilitates the diverse arrangements and patterns that were sought in the façade; it is decorative as well as functional and can be easily cut to play with shapes and natural light in the interior. The building aesthetic is warm and modern with a touch of industrial style. The design of the building is optimized so that the windows are shaded by roof overhangs and/or window frame extrusions during summer however, during the winter the interior should receive the most natural light possible through the windows.

The brief for this project was to design a single family dwelling. The proposed clients were a retired couple living on a 1-acre site with a mature garden in the district of North Saanich on Vancouver Island. The final design features a one storey house that has abundant natural light, outdoor seating, open plan living, and multiple access points to the garden. The home is designed with two wings separated by a courtyard and joined by a bright, fully glazed, corridor. The courtyard is partially sheltered to accommodate seating in any weather. The master bedroom is located in the east wing of the home so the occupants can see the rising sun on awakening. The open plan living area features a kitchen with west facing windows and opens onto a large living and dining area. Off the kitchen is a patio sufficent for outdoor dining. To the east of the dining area there is access to the courtyard and garden. In typical west coast-style the roof of the house is flat yet is multi-levelled to add interest. The siding of this home is of irregular shaped sandstone bricks which contrast well with the dark wood finish of the aluminum longboard used to clad the large roof overhangs. These overhangs are designed to allow the winter sunlight in but shade from the high summer sun.

Sixteen-360 is a high-rise building design. The lower two floors are commercial with a gym on the ground floor and a high-end spa on the first floor. The remaining floors feature generously spaced apartments. The location chosen for the design was at the intersection of the TransCanada Highway and Centre Street, a busy, densely populated area with abundant restaurants and amenities and a short distance to the downtown core of Calgary. From a market analysis of the area, it was determined that the area was poorly served by gyms and spas and has a relatively wealthy demographic that would likely benefit from these businesses. The spa would be open to the public by appointment and gym access would be provided to the building residents and by membership for the public. The design was inspired by a 360-degree water sprinkler I saw on a mid-summer evening walk. The resulting building design features floors having a variety of widths from east to west some of which are cantilevered over the preceding floors. In the Sixteen-360 design there is plenty of safe and private access to outdoor space with some apartments having large patios, and the rooftop level designed to be a shared indoor and outdoor lounging space. For the building siding red brick is used, and contrasts well with the black framed windows; this results in an industrial look reminiscent of some of the Manhattan loft-style residences which strongly influenced the choice of materials. Overall the design is a uniquely styled building that ideally invokes a conversation and inspires thoughtful architecture in Calgary.

Calgary’s older architecture is gradually being replaced by modern buildings that often do not carry forward the cultural history of the city and can be hastily built. Alongside a strong shift in culture to technology, a sense of community and culture is becoming ever more difficult to build and maintain in Calgary neighborhoods. The goal of this project was to demonstrate how older buildings in Calgary can continue to meet the city’s growing demands while supporting community and culture, when they are harmonized with modern architecture. By designing a modern addition to purposefully blend with a 40-year-old community centre in the neighbourhood of Rosemont, NW Calgary the design implements best practices from the study of community spaces that facilitate and encourage regular gathering from all generations in the community, with a strong focus on what works best to promote gatherings of teenage and senior age groups.